U.S. patent number 5,042,635 [Application Number 07/415,900] was granted by the patent office on 1991-08-27 for rapid coin acceptor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Jani Supplies Enterprises, Inc.. Invention is credited to Edward H. Bell.
United States Patent |
5,042,635 |
Bell |
August 27, 1991 |
Rapid coin acceptor
Abstract
A rapid coin acceptor is disclosed which is capable of
discriminating valid coins or tokens from counterfeit coins or
tokens and for accepting the valid coins or tokens as they fall by
gravity through the device. The coin acceptor includes a coin
introduction chute which receives coins or tokens and directs the
coins by gravity feed to a coin sensing gate which is positioned in
vertical registry below the bottom of the coin introduction chute.
The coin sensing gate is equipped with a plurality of sensors to
sense various parameters of the coin or token for authentication
purposes as the coin or token drops through the coin sensing gate.
The coin sensing gate is designed of height between one and one and
one-half times the diameter of the coin to assure substantially
instantaneous response to prevent the rapid insertion of a spurious
coin from defeating the sensor control. Upon sensing and
authenticating a coin within the time period of travel of the coin
within the coin sensing gate, a gate operator will be activated to
deflect the valid coin or token into a properly positioned coin
accept channel.
Inventors: |
Bell; Edward H. (Chambersburg,
PA) |
Assignee: |
Jani Supplies Enterprises, Inc.
(Havertown, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
23647694 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/415,900 |
Filed: |
October 2, 1989 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
194/346;
194/317 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07D
3/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;194/346,317,318,319 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0298814 |
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Jan 1989 |
|
EP |
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0326051 |
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Aug 1989 |
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EP |
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2423315 |
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Nov 1975 |
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DE |
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1168990 |
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Jul 1985 |
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SU |
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Primary Examiner: Spar; Robert J.
Assistant Examiner: Hienz; William M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Eckert Seamans Cherin &
Mellott
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A coin acceptor for distinguishing and sorting authentic coins
from unauthentic coins, the authentic coins having attributes
distinct from the unauthentic coins including at least two of
predetermined diameter, denomination, size and composition, the
coin acceptor comprising:
a coin introduction chute to guide the coin along a coin
introduction path;
a movable coin sensing gate in registry below the coin introduction
chute, the coin sensing gate being provided with a coin passage
positioned to receive coins from the coin introduction chute, the
coin sensing gate being movable between a first, coin reject
position and a second, coin accept position;
a plurality of sensors directed to the coin passage at the coin
sensing gate, the sensors including means operable for checking the
authenticity of the coin as the coin resides within the coin
passage at the coin sensing gate by sensing at least size and
composition, the sensors generating signals in response to the
passage of an authentic coin; and,
a gate operator connected to the coin sensing gate and being
responsive to signals from the plurality of coin sensors, the gate
operator being operable to move the coin sensing gate from the
first, coin reject position to the second, coin accept position
when the plurality of sensors properly authenticate the coin and
while the coin is still within the coin passage of the coin sensing
gate.
2. The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein the coin passage in the
coin sensing gate is at least equal in length to the diameter of
the coin.
3. The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein said coin passage in the
coin sensing gate has a length of between approximately one coin
diameter and one and one-half coin diameters.
4. The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein the coin introduction
chute positions the coin introduction path in generally vertical
alignment and wherein the coin falls by gravity along the coin
introduction path to the coin sensing gate.
5. The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein the movable coin sensing
gate is positioned in generally vertical alignment and in registry
below the coin introduction chute when the coin is first inserted
into the coin introduction chute.
6. The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein the gate operator rapidly
moves the coin sensing gate from the coin reject position to the
coin accept position prior to the coin exiting the coin passage of
the coin sensing gate, and wherein the gate operator is operable to
return to the coin reject position prior to sensing of a next
successive coin at the coin sensing gate.
7. The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
sensors is supported directly upon the coin sensing gate.
8. The coin acceptor of claim 7, wherein said at least one of the
sensors moves with the coin sensing gate when the coin sensing gate
is moved from the first position to the second position.
9. The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein the gate operator
comprises means biasing the coin sensing gate toward the first
position, said means biasing the coin sensing gate rapidly
returning the coin sensing gate from the second position to the
first position after the plurality of sensors function to move the
coin sensing gate.
10. The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein the coin sensing gate is
pivotally movable between the said first and second positions.
11. A rapid coin acceptor for accepting authentic coins of known
diameter and composition, comprising:
a coin introduction chute;
a movable coin sensing gate in vertical registry below the coin
introduction chute, the coin sensing gate and the coin introduction
chute defining a coin passage;
a plurality of coin sensing means directed at the coins within the
movable gate, the coin sensing means including sufficient sensors
at the movable gate to distinguish authentic coins by diameter and
composition while the coin is within the movable gate, the length
of the movable gate and an operative sensing length of the sensors
being less than one and one-half times the diameter of the coin
being checked;
a coin reject channel invertical registry below the coin
introduction chute, and a coin accept channel positioned in offset
relationship below a bottom of the movable coin sensing gate;
a gate operator means responsive to the coin sensing means to move
the coin sensing gate from a first, coin reject position to a
second, coin accept position; and,
wherein the sensors and the gate function to identify an authentic
coin and to position the coin sensing gate to one of the first and
second positions within a time span of the coin passing through the
gate by gravity.
12. The coin acceptor of claim 11, wherein the coin sensing gate is
positioned in vertical alignment when in the said first, coin
reject position such that failure of the sensors to signal an
authentic coin within said time span allows the coin to fall into
the coin reject channel.
13. The coin acceptor of claim 11, wherein the coin sensing gate is
movably pivotable on a pivotal axis and wherein the gate operator
means pivots the coin sensing gate about the pivotal axis when
moving the gate from the first position to the second position.
14. The coin acceptor of claim 13, wherein the gate operator means
comprises means, continuously biasing the coin sensing gate from
said second position toward said first position.
15. A method of accepting authentic coins having preselected
attributes, the authentic coins having a known diameter and
composition, the method comprising the steps of:
introducing the coin into a coin introduction chute and allowing
the coin to fall by gravity in the coin introduction chute, along a
coin path;
receiving the falling coin within a coin passage along the coin
path, in a movable coin sensing gate normally directed along a coin
reject path, and allowing the coin to fall by gravity through the
coin passage in the movable coin sensing gate, toward the coin
reject path;
sensing the attributes of the coin while within the coin passage
with sensors sufficient to distinguish coins for authenticity;
moving the coin sensing gate to direct the movable coin sensing
gate toward a coin accept path prior to the coin exiting the coin
passage, upon sensing an authentic coin;
accepting the authentic coin from the moved coin sensing gate;
and,
rejecting coins not sensed to be authentic while within the movable
coin sensing gate.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensing comprises sensing
said attributes within a time period required for the coin to fall
by gravity through a distance equal to between one and one and
one-half times the diameter of the coin.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the moving comprises pivotally
moving the coin sensing gate from the coin reject path to the coin
accept path, and returning the coin sensing gate to the coin reject
path, for each authentic coin passing the coin sensing gate.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensing comprises moving
the sensors in unison with the movement of the coin sensing gate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of coin
checkers and acceptors, and more particularly, is directed to a
coin or token sensing device capable of rapid acceptance of
authentic coins or tokens and rapid rejection of counterfeits.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Automatic coin operated machines and mechanisms have become
increasingly popular both in the United States and in many foreign
countries. Early coin operated devices such as telephones have
become increasingly more sophisticated in their coin accepting
mechanisms and means have been provided to receive, check, sort,
escrow and even return a large number of coins of varying
denomination and size. Other coin or token activated machines, such
as the popular coin operated washers and dryers, have resulted in
the establishment of entirely new industries as a direct result of
the improved nature of the coin accepting mechanisms. Of course,
since the legalization of gambling in the states of Nevada and New
Jersey and in various foreign countries, coin operated gaming
devices known as slot machines now produce a most significant
fraction of the entire gaming industry gross revenue. Other coin
operated devices that have now established an accepted place in the
daily routine of everyday life include cigarette vending machines,
candy vending machines, article vending machines, liquid drink
dispensing machines in either bottle or open cup configuration, and
the like.
Just as sure as the various types of coin operated mechanisms have
become increasingly popular, unscrupulous individuals have
increasingly been tempted to develop slugs and other articles
especially designed to defeat the coin checking facilities
incorporated within the coin accepting mechanisms. Because of this,
prior workers in the art have developed many construction features
for use with the coin accepting mechanisms which have been
particularly designed to minimize the acceptance of bad coins and
slugs and to discourage tampering.
Coin gaming devices, such as slot machines, have now been designed
to accept all denominations of coins from as low as five cents to
as high as one dollar or more. Most recently, very valuable tokens,
for example, tokens of $500 denomination have been introduced in
the casinos and have become increasingly popular. With tokens of
such value, it is extremely important that the coin checking
systems function with extreme accuracy and with complete
reliability. Coin checking mechanisms for this high end segment of
the coin industry are currently of the type described in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 4,326,621, 4,354,587, 4,334,604 and 4,359,148 to Davies and
the coin checking device sold by Coin Mechanisms, Inc., Elmhurst,
Ill. under the designation "Coin Comparitor Model CC-40."
While the above prior art coin acceptors or rejectors have become
increasingly popular, these prior art designs suffer from a common
design flaw in that the distance from the area wherein the coin or
token is electronically tested and the gating mechanism that is
employed to deflect a valid coin or token is too great. This
distance is usually in the neighborhood of between 11/2 and 2
diameters of the coin or token being checked or more. This geometry
determines that the coin or token being checked in the sensing area
is not the same coin or token that is present within the accept or
reject mechanism. The greater the distance between the coin
checking and the coin gating provides an increased time gap wherein
a skilled person can defeat the mechanism. With a sufficient time
period within which to act, the coin checking mechanism can be
defeated by quickly placing and feeding a counterfeit coin or token
which is interleaved with a valid coin or token. When the time lag
is of sufficient duration, there is a possibility that a skilled
person can cheat the coin acceptor or rejector by feeding a
spurious coin or token in rapid succession following a genuine
coin. By pursuing this course, should the circuitry recognize the
first coin as being genuine, the spurious coin quickly following in
rapid succession may still be accepted by the machine because of
the inability of the accept solenoid or other coin accept mechanism
to respond quickly enough to reject the spurious coin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of coin
acceptors or rejectors, and more particularly, relates to an
improved apparatus for rapidly accepting only genuine coins or
tokens of a particular value or denomination and to reject spurious
coins or other improper tokens.
The rapid coin acceptor of the present invention comprises
generally a compact coin or token checking mechanism wherein an
inlet coin chute or coin slot extends exteriorly of the associated
machine to a convenient location to receive therein coins or tokens
of a predetermined value or denomination. The inlet chute directs
the coin or token by gravity directly to a movable coin sensing
gate of length sufficient to receive the coin or token
therewithin.
The movable coin sensing gate is equipped with a plurality of
various types of coin sensors wherein the authenticity of the coin
or token, the size of the coin or token, the material content of
the coin or token, the acoustic nature of the coin or token, etc.
can be determined, all within the very short time period span
required to allow the coin or token to drop by gravity through the
movable coin sensing gate. In a preferred embodiment, the coin
sensing gate is pivotal about an axis in response to the signals
from the various sensors.
It is of prime importance in this invention that the coin sensing
gate operator be substantially immediately responsive to the
signals of the various coin sensors. The signals generated by the
various sensors and the response of the gate operator must all take
place within a very small segment of time, that is within the time
period that it takes for the coin or token to fall by gravity
through the coin sensing gate. Preferably, the height or length of
the coin sensing gate should be in the size range of between one
and one and one-half coin diameters.
In the event that all of the sensors indicate that the coin or
token being checked is authentic, the gate operator will be
immediately responsive to such signals to pivot or otherwise move
the coin sensing gate before the coin or token falls through the
coin sensing gate, whereby the authentic coin will be diverted into
the coin accept channel for subsequent acceptance within the
associated device. In the event that one or more of the sensors
determines that the coin or token being checked is spurious, the
gate operator will not function and the coin or token will fall by
gravity directly through the coin sensing gate into a reject
channel wherein the spurious coin or token may or may not be
returned to the operator.
It is contemplated that one or more of the coin or token sensors
will be applied directly on or about the movable coin sensing gate
whereby such sensors will move when the gate itself is moved.
Alternately, some or most of the sensors can be applied adjacent to
the coin sensing gate in stationary locations whereby such coin
sensors will not move when the gate operator is functioned. By
checking the coin or token directly within the coin sensing gate
and then moving the gate to accept an authentic coin before it has
the time to fall through the gate, the previous rapid feeding or
"stuffing" of a counterfeit coin will have no effect on the rapid
coin acceptor of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an
improved rapid coin acceptor of the type set forth.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel
rapid coin acceptor that includes a movable coin sensing gate and
means to discriminate between genuine coins and spurious coins
during the time period that the coin remains within the movable
coin sensing gate.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel
rapid coin acceptor comprising a coin introduction chute, a coin
sensing gate receiving coins by gravity from the coin introduction
chute, coin sensing means associated with the coin sensing gate to
check the authenticity of the coin directly within the coin sensing
gate and rapid gate operation means to move the coin sensing gate
in response to signals from the coin sensing means to divert
authentic coins into a coin accept channel within the time span
defined by the time period required for gravity fall of the coin
through the coin sensing gate.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel
rapid coin acceptor comprising a coin introduction chute, a movable
coin sensing gate in vertical registry below the coin introduction
chute, a plurality of coin sensors secured to the movable gate, the
length of the gate being less than 11/2 times the diameter of the
coin being checked, a coin reject channel in vertical registry
below the coin introduction chute and a coin accept channel
positioned in offset relationship below the bottom of the movable
coin sensing gate wherein the gate must function within the time
span of the coin passing through the gate by gravity in order to
divert an authentic coin into the proper coin accept channel.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel
rapid coin acceptor that is simple in construction, extremely rapid
in response and trouble-free when in use.
Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be
had by referring to the following description and claims of a
preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to
similar parts throughout the several views and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rapid coin acceptor constructed
in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, and
partially broken away and partially in phantom to expose interior
construction features.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the rapid coin acceptor of
FIG. 1, at reduced scale.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3--3 on FIG. 2,
looking the direction of the arrows, and showing the movable coin
sensing gate in the coin accept position.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3, showing the
movable coin sensing gate in the coin reject position.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the rapid coin acceptor looking from
line 5--5 on FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Although specific terms are used in the following description for
the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the
particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in
the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of
the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a rapid
coin acceptor 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of
the present invention and suitable to accept an authentic,
preselected coin or token 12. The coin or token 12 can be of any
predetermined denomination, size, shape, metallic composition or
the like and the various sensors 40, 42 can be designed,
constructed and applied in known manner to substantially
instantaneous check for desired coin characteristics in a manner to
very accurately and very quickly authenticate the coin or token
12.
Still referring to FIG. 1 and further considering FIGS. 2 and 5,
the rapid coin acceptor 10 comprises generally a coin introduction
chute 14 which may be of suitable length and configuration to
extend exteriorly of the associated coin operated device (not
shown) in convenient position to accept coins or tokens 12. The
coin introduction chute 14 is preferably rectangular in
configuration and includes sidewalls which define a generally
vertically arranged coin passage 16 therewithin. The device is
intended for gravity operation, and accordingly the coin passage 16
is preferably arranged as close to the vertical as conveniently
possible. In the illustrated embodiment, the coin introduction
chute 14 can be secured to the coin acceptor base or back plate 46
in stationary manner by employing a support block or bracket 54.
The coin introduction chute 14 orients and positions the dropping
coin or token 12 in suitable alignment to enter the movable coin
sensing gate 18 for coin checking and authentication purposes as
hereinafter more fully set forth. As illustrated, the coin sensing
gate 18 is normally positioned in vertical registry directly below
the bottom of the coin introduction chute 14.
The movable coin sensing gate 18 is intended to be rapidly moved
upon sensing the presence of an authentic coin or token 12 to
divert the coin or token into the proper coin accept channel 30. In
the event that the inserted coin or token 12 cannot be
authenticated by the sensors 40, 42 as the coin is within the coin
sensing gate 18, then the coin sensing gate 18 will not move and
the spurious coin or token will fall vertically downwardly by
gravity into the coin reject channel 28. While a pivotally movable
coin sensing gate 18 is illustrated in the preferred embodiment, it
will be appreciated that other movements and other mechanisms could
be employed to cause diversion of an authentic coin in response to
sensor signals and not to move when the sensors detect a spurious
coin or token. Suffice it to say that whatever particularly type of
gate moving mechanism is employed, it is an important feature of
this invention that the coin sensing gate 18 be rapidly movable
from a normal, first, vertical coin reject position 24 as
illustrated in FIG. 4 to a second, coin accept position 26 as
illustrated in FIG. 3, all within the time period or time span
required for a coin to fall by gravity through a distance that is
no greater than one and one-half times the diameter of the coin
itself.
In the illustrated embodiment, the movable coin sensing gate 18 is
fabricated to be generally rectangular in cross section
configuration having enclosing sidewalls which define an enclosed
coin passage 20 therewithin. If desired or necessary, one or more
of the sidewalls comprising the coin sensing gate 18 can be
provided with a suitable opening 50 to allow visual observation of
the coin progress, or perhaps, to facilitate placement of some type
of sensor that may require an unobstructed interface with the coin
or token 12 as it passes through the coin acceptor 10. An opening
50 that may be provided must be sufficiently small so as the
prevent the coin or token 12 from inadvertently escaping from the
coin passage 20.
It is a design feature of this invention that all of the sensing
systems will be positioned to rapidly monitor and sense various
parameters of the coin or token 12 as the coin or token passes
through the coin passage 20 of the coin sensing gate 18.
Accordingly, the height of the coin sensing gate 18 should be at
least as high as the diameter of the coin 12. Inasmuch as almost
instantaneous response will be necessary to defeat rapid feeding of
a spurious coin as above set forth, it is necessary that the height
of the coin passage 20 be no greater than one and one-half times
the diameter of the coin or token 12. Accordingly, all of the
sensors 40, 42 associated with the coin sensing gate 18 must be
designed for substantially instantaneous sensing and response
whereby a coin or token 12 can be authenticated accurately as
rapidly within the time span that the coin will require to fall by
gravity through a coin passage 20 of length between one and
one-half diameters of the coin itself.
Many varieties and constructions of sensors 40, 42 have been
designed by prior workers in the art to monitor and check coin or
token characteristics or parameters such as sensors to detect
magnetic properties, sensors to discriminate between paramagnetic,
diamagnetic and ferromagnetic alloys, sensors to determine the
physical shape and dimensions of the coin under test, sensors to
measure the inductive permeability of the coin under test, sensors
to determine the number of electrons in the valence shell of the
surface material of the coin under test, secondary inductive
sensors to provide protection against sintered plastic or metal
filled ceramic counterfeit coins, acoustic sensors to determine the
density and shape of the coin under test and so forth. In other
words, numerous sensors are currently available that can be
employed in conjunction with the coin sensing gate 18 to determine
various parameters to make sure of absolute accuracy in operation.
A suitable micro computer and electronic circuit board 44 having
components as necessary to control and b responsive to the sensors
40, 42 can be secured to the base 46 and can be wired to the
various sensors 40, 42 in known manner for efficient operation by
persons skilled in the art.
In the illustrated embodiment, a high speed rotary gate operator 22
is responsive to the sensors 40, 42 and is affixed to the movable
coin sensing gate 18 in a manner to rotate the gate 18 between the
normally vertical, coin reject position 24 as shown in FIG. 4 to
the angularly offset or pivoted coin accept position 26 as
illustrated in FIG. 3. The gate operator 22 can be secured to a
base mounted support bracket 48 by employing suitable small bolts
52 or other fasteners. A pivot pin 38 is rotatable within an
opposite support wall 36 and pivotally carries the side of the gate
18 remote from the gate operator 22. The gate operator 22 must be
responsive to function by the sensors 40, 42 in minimal time
whereby the gate 18 can be urged to the coin accept position 26
within the time period required for the coin to fall by gravity
through a distance from one coin diameter to 1 1/2 diameters, that
is, through the height of the coin sensing gate 18. The gate
operator 22 comprises a spring (not shown) which functions rapidly
and precisely to normally urge the movable coin sensing gate 18 to
its coin reject position 24. (See FIGS. 2 and 4). Upon receipt of
coin authentication signals from the sensors 40, 42 within the
given time span, the gate operator 22 functions to overcome the
bias of the said spring to rapidly pivot or otherwise move the coin
sensing gate 18 to the said coin accept position 26 as illustrated
in FIG. 3.
In the illustrated embodiment, the coin sensors 40, 42 are shown in
direct association with the coin sensing gate 18 and accordingly,
the sensors 40, 42 will move when the gate 18 itself is moved.
Alternatively, it is contemplated that one or more of the sensors
40, 42 could be positioned in stationary relationship to the coin
sensing gate 18 wherein they could perform their coin
authentication functions without cooperative movement with the gate
18. In either type of construction, it is an important feature of
this invention that the coin or token 12 be checked and
authenticated directly within the gate and not before reaching the
gate.
After the coin or token 12 passes through the coin sensing gate 18
and is properly authenticated or rejected in response to function
of the sensors 40, 42, rejected coins will fall by gravity through
the lower positioned coin reject channel 28, which channel is in
vertical registry below the coin introduction chute 14 and the coin
passage 20 within the coin sensing gate 18 when the coin sensing
gate is spring biased to its normal, first coin reject position 24.
The rejected coin or token 12 will fall by gravity through the coin
reject channel 28 and from there, the rejected coin may be returned
to the user or may be locked and impounded to prevent further
attempts to employ a spurious coin, according to the design of the
coin acceptor 10.
Upon authentication of the coin or token 12 by the sensors 40, 42,
the gate operator 22 will substantially instantaneously be
activated to pivot the movable coin sensing gate 18 to the said
coin accept position 26 as shown in FIG. 3. It will be noted that
the coin or token 12 resides within the coin passage 20 of the coin
sensing gate 18 during the entire coin checking and gating process.
The coin that is checked must be the same coin that moves with the
gate to drop into the coin accept channel 30. Upon proper
authentication, the bottom of the coin passage 20 will then be
diverted laterally of the coin reject channel 28 and will
vertically align over the top of the coin accept channel 30,
whereby the properly authenticated coin will be directed through
the coin accept channel 30 to the machine coin box (not shown) or
perhaps to some type of coin actuated operator (not shown), if such
a device is to be employed. The coin accept channel 30 is defined
by forwardly inclined sidewalls 32, 34 to lead and direct the
authenticated coin or token 12 to the predetermined receptor (not
shown) that is provided for properly authenticated coins in well
known manner.
Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of
particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has
been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the
details of construction and the combination and arrangement of
parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not
be limited by the foregoing specification, but rather, only by the
scope of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *